Many times documentation and files used in translation projects are extremely large due to the volume of text to be translated and/or the amount of images, charts, graphics, and screenshots used in the layout.Many times the layout itself is so complex that it adds to the size of the source file.
There are plenty of applications to compress or “zip up” the files so they can be sent or uploaded easily. The most popular, WinZip, has been around for years. Another popular application that is being more widely used is WinRAR.
WinRAR is a file compression tool for making files smaller and adding multiple files to a single protected archive for safer, easier transfer over networks and via the internet.
WinRAR integrates itself into your Windows shell so that by right clicking on any given documents or files, you have the ability to compress those files, usually into a smaller, more protected format.
Right clicking a file or multiple files gives you the following options:
In this case, I selected Frame Maker.doc on my hard drive and I’m given the following options. If you are doing a single file and you’d like to retain the original name of the file, simply select (in this case) Add to “Frame Maker.rar”, and the program will automatically create a compressed version of this file using the default WinRAR options.
By selecting Add to archive…, you are presented with more options:
You are given the choice of Archive format, and in this case I’d like to stress using RAR as opposed to ZIP since RAR gives us more options.
If you are using a single file, WinRAR will automatically select the name of your file. You have the option to change this to another name of your choosing which is nice when dealing with multiple files. The extension is automatically .rar even if you delete the entire line and set your file name as, “I LOVE COOKIES”. It will still be I LOVE COOKIES.rar
Another great feature of WinRAR is the ability to split archives into specifically sized volumes.
As you can see, I used my MOV02033.AVI file, right clicked, chose the option in the bottom left-hand corner and chose a specific file size to split my main file into. There are several default sizes, but I prefer to choose my own depending on the size of the file being compressed.
A quick chart on sizes is like this:
1,000,000 bytes = 1 megabyte or 1mb
5,000,000 bytes = 5 megabytes or 5mb
10,000,000 bytes = 10 megabytes or 10mb
You can set this as high or as low as you’d like. Depending on the size of whatever I’m going to compress, I like to create volumes of anywhere from 5mb to 100mb each. When working with extremely large files in the gigabyte range it’s better to use larger split volumes in the 50mb to 100mb range. It will make decompressing the files faster and create fewer archives. Remember, the larger the volume you create, the less archives you create. As you can see in the picture above, I chose to split my main 60mb file into 10mb archives coming out to around 56mb total when compressed.
Once I have my main file split into compressed volumes I no longer need it. It’s basically copied over into 6 smaller volumes (using my example above), and when I unpack those files, it’ll be there whole and intact. Simply by selecting the first volume in the set and then choose to extract it, it will know there’s a set of files related to the first one and unpack your compressed file wherever you choose.
Just remember to select PUT RECOVERY RECORD so that if any damage occurs (data loss) during transfer, the file can be repaired easily by the recipient.
Another nice feature is the COMMENT tab detailed below:
By using this feature you are given the ability to add a note to your archive as shown above. This is really handy for adding extra information, details which were missed or forgotten in a meeting or email, or just saying Hello or Thanks!
WinRAR provides the user with the ability to compress any volume, split it if needed, and protect for it for safe transmission over networks and online. WinRAR is a safe and easy solution for protecting the integrity of your files and archives from data loss due to power failures, internet disconnections, and other mishaps while working with important files. Using WinRAR also saves vital hard drive space where there may be constraints.
It may take a little longer to prepare and send that important document for translation, analysis or cleanup, but at least you can be guaranteed your documents are safe.
There are plenty of applications to compress or “zip up” the files so they can be sent or uploaded easily. The most popular, WinZip, has been around for years. Another popular application that is being more widely used is WinRAR.
WinRAR is a file compression tool for making files smaller and adding multiple files to a single protected archive for safer, easier transfer over networks and via the internet.
WinRAR integrates itself into your Windows shell so that by right clicking on any given documents or files, you have the ability to compress those files, usually into a smaller, more protected format.
Right clicking a file or multiple files gives you the following options:
In this case, I selected Frame Maker.doc on my hard drive and I’m given the following options. If you are doing a single file and you’d like to retain the original name of the file, simply select (in this case) Add to “Frame Maker.rar”, and the program will automatically create a compressed version of this file using the default WinRAR options.
By selecting Add to archive…, you are presented with more options:
You are given the choice of Archive format, and in this case I’d like to stress using RAR as opposed to ZIP since RAR gives us more options.
If you are using a single file, WinRAR will automatically select the name of your file. You have the option to change this to another name of your choosing which is nice when dealing with multiple files. The extension is automatically .rar even if you delete the entire line and set your file name as, “I LOVE COOKIES”. It will still be I LOVE COOKIES.rar
Another great feature of WinRAR is the ability to split archives into specifically sized volumes.
As you can see, I used my MOV02033.AVI file, right clicked, chose the option in the bottom left-hand corner and chose a specific file size to split my main file into. There are several default sizes, but I prefer to choose my own depending on the size of the file being compressed.
A quick chart on sizes is like this:
1,000,000 bytes = 1 megabyte or 1mb
5,000,000 bytes = 5 megabytes or 5mb
10,000,000 bytes = 10 megabytes or 10mb
You can set this as high or as low as you’d like. Depending on the size of whatever I’m going to compress, I like to create volumes of anywhere from 5mb to 100mb each. When working with extremely large files in the gigabyte range it’s better to use larger split volumes in the 50mb to 100mb range. It will make decompressing the files faster and create fewer archives. Remember, the larger the volume you create, the less archives you create. As you can see in the picture above, I chose to split my main 60mb file into 10mb archives coming out to around 56mb total when compressed.
Once I have my main file split into compressed volumes I no longer need it. It’s basically copied over into 6 smaller volumes (using my example above), and when I unpack those files, it’ll be there whole and intact. Simply by selecting the first volume in the set and then choose to extract it, it will know there’s a set of files related to the first one and unpack your compressed file wherever you choose.
Just remember to select PUT RECOVERY RECORD so that if any damage occurs (data loss) during transfer, the file can be repaired easily by the recipient.
Another nice feature is the COMMENT tab detailed below:
By using this feature you are given the ability to add a note to your archive as shown above. This is really handy for adding extra information, details which were missed or forgotten in a meeting or email, or just saying Hello or Thanks!
WinRAR provides the user with the ability to compress any volume, split it if needed, and protect for it for safe transmission over networks and online. WinRAR is a safe and easy solution for protecting the integrity of your files and archives from data loss due to power failures, internet disconnections, and other mishaps while working with important files. Using WinRAR also saves vital hard drive space where there may be constraints.
It may take a little longer to prepare and send that important document for translation, analysis or cleanup, but at least you can be guaranteed your documents are safe.
